Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist – Children’s Residential Care
The Clinical Psychologist will provide psychological assessments, interventions, and therapeutic support to children and adolescents living in residential care who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or other adverse childhood experiences. The Clinical Psychologist will work closely with the multidisciplinary team including the Psychotherapist to develop and deliver trauma-informed care plans aimed at enhancing the mental health and well-being of the children. This role will be based in Co Laois.
Key Responsibilities of the Clinical Psychologist
- Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments of children to identify trauma, emotional difficulties, behavioural challenges, and mental health issues.
- Use trauma-specific assessment tools and psychometric measures to determine the impact of adverse childhood experiences on development and mental health.
- Provide diagnostic clarification, where relevant, of disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, attachment disorders, and behavioural issues.
- Develop and implement trauma-informed therapeutic interventions for children, including individual, group, and family therapy.
- Provide evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other modalities suited to working with trauma.
- Offer crisis intervention as needed, addressing issues related to self-harm, suicidal ideation, and emotional distress.
- Support children in managing emotional regulation, developing coping skills, and building resilience in their day-to-day lives.
- Collaborate with the residential care team, social workers, medical professionals, and educational staff to create holistic, child-centred care plans that promote healing and recovery.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss case formulations, treatment plans, and progress.
- Provide psychoeducation to caregivers, foster parents, and residential care workers on trauma, attachment, and developmental needs.
- Facilitate family interventions where applicable, helping to strengthen family bonds and resolve attachment-related issues.
- Provide consultation to residential care staff on the psychological needs of the children and strategies to support trauma-informed care in everyday practice.
- Offer guidance on managing challenging behaviour, emotional dysregulation, and attachment-related difficulties.
- Deliver training to residential staff and social workers on trauma and its impact on children, attachment theory, managing behaviour in a trauma-informed way, and recognising signs of psychological distress.
- Contribute to the development of psychological services within the residential care system, ensuring that interventions are trauma-informed and evidence-based.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing the mental health support provided in residential settings.
- Conduct or contribute to research projects focused on trauma and its impact on children in residential care, with a view to informing service delivery and policy development.
- Use outcome measures to monitor the effectiveness of interventions and adapt treatment plans as needed.
- Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection in all interactions with children. Report concerns in accordance with Irish child protection laws and regulations (Children First Act 2015).
- Maintain professional ethics, confidentiality, and boundaries in line with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) guidelines and the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Qualifications and experience of the Clinical Psychologist
- A Doctorate in Clinical Psychology recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland and be fully registered with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
- A minimum of 2 years’ post-qualification experience working with children and adolescents, preferably in residential care or similar settings.
- Experience in working with trauma, abuse, and attachment-related issues.
- Demonstrated competence in psychological assessments, particularly trauma-informed assessments.
- Training in evidence-based therapeutic approaches for trauma (e.g., TF-CBT, EMDR).
- Proven ability to work with complex cases involving emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents.
To apply please contact jreid@medforce.ie
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